Yvonne glanced at the maid who stood behind her mistress with her head lowered just as a servant should be.

It had been two weeks since Yvonne had last seen her following Raylene and this could only mean one thing.

'She has completed her punishment period in the Lower Hall.' She inferred and then looked away.

Yvonne turned her sights towards her parents and noticed that they were staring at her as though they had seen her for the very first time today.

"Mama? Papa?" She called out to them when she observed that they were too deep into their trance.

Snapping out of their beautiful reverie, the parents smiled at the little girl.

Raylene was about to move forward to pick her up but her husband was one step ahead of her in this regard.

Rutherford crossed his lovely Ray and leaned to pick Yvonne up in his arms.

'What!? You get to spend the entire afternoon with her so why can't I carry her for now?' The silent complaints were clear on his face which his wife could comprehend with ease.

Since she had won the last round and had received permission to leave the estate with their child, she decided to be the bigger person and let him enjoy these short moments of joy.

'They keep acting as though I am not here! Who will ask whether I wish to be carried or not?' Yvonne scowled yet the arms wrapped around her father's neck proved that she was not as reluctant as she made it out to be.

After all, she was now in the body of a child and her emotions were getting swayed the longer she remained in this body.

Just like any other child, she was now getting used to and even yearning for the warm embrace of her parents, and she did not seem to realize this change in her behavior.

Her overly cautious and distant attitude was being melted away by the affection and care she was receiving from this loving pair.

Rutherford strode ahead with his daughter in his arms and wife by his side.

Mrs. Jacinth would not be accompanying the Madam and young miss as she had a lot of work that needed to be done in the Madam's absence.

This old maid was the first in command in the absence of the Lady of the house and she needed to ensure that everything was perfect by the time she returned to the mansion.

She also did not need to worry about the Madam and Young Miss as Raylene's personal maid, Paula, would be accompanying them for their outing this afternoon.

'I hope that she does not do anything to upset the Madam today and be punished all over again.' The old maid sighed as she fixed her eyes on the other maid who was following the family of three.

Rutherford caressed the soft yet round cheeks of the little and docile child in his arms when they had reached the carriage that would take them to their destination.

The muscular man encircled his wife's waist and helped her enter the carriage with ease even when he had Yvonne in his arms.

Once he was sure that Raylene had secured her footing, he let go of her waist and watched as she took her seat inside the carriage.

"Take care of yourself, Vonna. Don't hesitate to let your mother know if you are tired and want to return home." He informed her after turning his gaze towards the child in his arms.

'Big talk for the man who agreed to send me out in the first place.' Yvonne narrowed her eyes at her father when she heard his pleasant words.

She wished with all her heart to roll her eye at him yet could only restrain herself as he was staring right at her face and she had an image to uphold before their eyes.

Left with no other choice, she could only nod in agreement to the benevolent words that he had spoken in her favor.

Raylene had the exact same initial reaction as her daughter and was now staring at her husband who stood outside the coach with her eyes narrowed.

"Does Ruthy think that I cannot take good care of my child?" She interrogated with her smile now widening on her face.

However, both Rutherford and Yvonne were aware that the smile they were seeing was not one that was genuine.

The Earl's chuckle was awkward enough for Yvonne to feel bad for the man who had offended his wife whose favor he had been trying to curry during lunch.

'Shot yourself in the foot. That's divine retribution for selling me out for your selfish desires earlier!' She smirked but soon reverted to her normal expressions.

Yvonne was quick to throw away any feelings of pity she had for him once she recalled how he had ignored her pleas during lunch.

Raylene now ignored the appeasing smile on the big man's face and turned her eyes towards her daughter who was staring back at her.

"Come along, Vonny. Let's leave early so that we might return early." She demanded as she stretched her hands out.

Rutherford slumped his shoulders as he kissed the top of Yvonne's head before handing her over to the woman who was already seated inside the coach.

The lips which he had puckered to receive a goodbye kiss for his wife were left untouched as Raylene accepted the child and scooted away from his reach.

Yvonne had to force the chortle down as she buried her face inside her mother's bosom to make sure that no one had seen her complacent face.

'Serves you right!' She gloated in her heart, biting her lower lip to hinder the laughter which craved to be let out.

"Be sure to let Mama know when you are tired… Who knows what your Papa might think if I was the cause for you to faint due to fatigue." Raylene's mocking words fell on her ears the next moment.

This was making it harder for her to restrain herself and she nodded with her face stuck to her mother's neck to avoid looking at either of their faces.

Rutherford knew that she had said those words to taunt him which made the big and muscular man to pout as he shot sparkling tears from his eyes.

But looking at the stern appearance of the Countess, it seemed as though he was out on his luck for the day.

Raylene did not meet his eyes but looked at the woman who was watching this little exchange from a few feet away from them.

Paula, Raylene's personal maid retracted her gaze and bowed her head when she noticed the Madam's stern eyes on her.

"Ask the coachman to make haste." Raylene ordered which caused the maid to rush ahead.

Rutherford was unsuccessful in gaining any favor from his wife before she left and thus was left on the front porch, staring at the carriage which was moving away from the mansion at a high speed.

With slumped shoulders and gloomy spirit, the Earl returned to the mansion to drown himself in the workload that awaited him in his office.